Dresden Sächsische Landesbibliothek Staats- und ...€¦ · DRESDEN 2 fol. 28v XIV. … duabus, Saturni duabus ut Sol. ZODIACUS CIRCULUS. ff. 28v-29v XV. Luna terris vicinior est

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(formerly) Dresden

Sächsische Landesbibliothek Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek

Ms D.C. 183

Revised Aratus latinus

West Francia

early 9th century (destroyed 1945)

text

note: As this manuscript has been destroyed, I have been working from the Warburg Institute

photographs; hence; the lack of data about the texts. For Haffner’s 2012 listing of the contents, see

bibliography below.

ff. _____ Revised Aratus latinus

note: As this manuscript has been destroyed, I have been working from the Warburg

Institute photographs; hence, the lack of data about the texts.

fol. 13r IX. — Id est Saturnus Iovis Mars sol Venus Mercurius luna.

INVOLUTIO SPHERAE

ff. 14r-26r X. … a polo aquilonio sortes quadraginta restant centumduodecima sortes.

ARCTURUS MAIOR. Porro arcturus minor quia pluribus phoenicae agrecis — et

ad capiendos lepores sive in omni studio venandi exercitatus extiterit.

Habet quidem stellas iii. ANTECANIS.

ff. 26r-27v XII. Cum sole et luna septem astra — et Mercurio demonstrata esse credebantur

fol. 27v XIII. Lacteus circulus quem Greci Galaxian vocant — in Sagittario tantum se

contingent. LACTEUS CIRCULUS.

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fol. 28v XIV. … duabus, Saturni duabus ut Sol. ZODIACUS CIRCULUS.

ff. 28v-29v XV. Luna terris vicinior est — sin hortu quarto, namque is certissimus auctor.

LUNA.

fol. 31r SOL.

XVII. Sidera quae gentiles Praesepe et Asinos vocaverunt — adeptos fuisse

opinabantur victoriam. EXPLICIT LIBER ASTROLOGORUM.

illustrations

fol. 8v fol.13r fol. 14r fol. 14v

fol. 15r fol.15v fol. 16r fol. 16v

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fol. 28v fol.29v fol. 31r

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fol. 8v Summer and winter celestial hemispheres together on one page, with the summer

hemispheres above the winter one and both with north at the top. For a fuller

description, see the section on hemispheres.

This preliminary study was made jointly with Elly DEKKER. An updated and

corrected version has been published in her book in 2012,

folio size: 238 x 165 mm

The presentation is in globe view.

Of the 48 Ptolemaic constellations, only 36 constellations are present in these maps.

There are also non-Ptolemaic additions of a vase-like object in the northern

hemisphere (the ‘ivy leaf’ or Coma Berenices) and an extra depiction of Capricorn

amongst the constellations of the southern hemisphere. The following constellations

do not appear: Ara, Corona Australis, Corona Borealis, Cygnus, Eridanus, Equuleus,

Lepus, Lyra, Perseus, Sagitta, Triangulum and Ursa Minor. The constellations

depicted conform to Hipparchus’s rule are Orion, Bootes, Ophiuchus, and

Sagittarius. All the other human figures violate the rule.

I: Cartography of the summer hemisphere

The circle that frames the map represents the equinoctial colures. The vertical line

through the middle of the map and the north and south equatorial poles represents

the summer solstitial colure. Perpendicular to this colure, there are five straight

lines representing the ever-visible circle, the Tropic of Cancer, the Equator, the

Tropic of Capricorn and the ever-invisible circle. When expressed as fractions of the

diameter of the map, the distances of the five horizontal lines from the North Pole

measure 0.08, 0.18, 0.45, 0.58 and 0.80 respectively. In addition to these straight

lines, there are two arcs (or sections of circles) that represent the northern and

southern boundaries of the zodiacal band. The upper and lower boundaries of the

zodiac intersect the solstitial colure at distances of 0.18 and 0.39 from the North

Pole respectively (distances expressed as fractions of the diameter of the map). The

line corresponding to the Tropic of Cancer is tangential to the upper boundary of

the zodiacal band.

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a. Locations of the constellations with respect to the grid:

North of the ever-visible circle: the head, shoulders and arms of Auriga (left of the

colure), Draco (on the colure), the upper part of the vase-like image and Ursa Maior

(right of the colure).

Between the ever-visible circle and the Tropic of Cancer: the body of Auriga from

the chest to the knees (left of the colure) and the bottom of the vase-like object

(right of the colure).

In the zodiacal band: Aries, Taurus and Gemini (left of the colure) and Cancer, Leo

and Virgo (right of the colure).

Between the southern boundary of the zodiac and the Tropic of Capricorn: Orion

(left of the colure) and Canis Minor, Hydra with Crater and Corvus (right of the

colure).

Between the Tropic of Capricorn and the ever-invisible circle: Cetus and the

anomalous Capricorn (left of the colure) and Canis Maior (in a vertical position

running along the colure) and Navis (right of the colure).

South of the ever-invisible circle: the rear parts of Centaurus (right of the colure).

The ever-visible circle passes through the right hand, the right elbow, and the chest

of Auriga; the neck of Draco and it lies beneath the feet of Ursa Maior.

The Tropic of Cancer passes through the ankles of Auriga.

The equator passes through Orion’s hat, the cup of Crater and the neck of Corvus.

The Tropic of Capricorn passes through the tail of Cetus and the left ankle of Orion.

The ever-invisible circle passes through the belly of Canis Maior, the oars of Navis

and the rear feet of the rear of Centaurus rest upon it.

The summer solstitial colure passes though the tail of Draco.

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b. Significant features of the constellation images

the head of Draco appears to the right of Auriga’s outstretched arm.

Ursa Maior [+] is to the right of Draco, faces to the left and is drawn as a tiny

bear.

Auriga [-] is standing directly above the Twins. He wears a short tunic and cape

around his shoulders. He holds a sword upright in his right hand and raises his left

hand. (Although this figure only vaguely resembles Auriga and he is missing all of

his attributes, the identification is based on his location on the sphere.)

The vase-like object [0] appears above the middle of the back of Leo and is

shaped like a footed urn with water pouring from its mouth.

Aries [+] with curled horns and a long tail is leaping to the left while looking

back over his left shoulder to the right. He has a lacy ring around his body.

Taurus [+] is depicted as ½ a bull facing to the right, with his right front leg bent

under and his left one extended in front of him.

The Gemini [-] are nude and are shown walking to the right with their inner arms

resting on each other’s shoulders.

Cancer [+/-] is facing to the left and has two claws 8 legs and two eyes on his

shell. His shell is scalloped on the right side. (The overall shape of Cancer is the

same in the hemisphere and the star catalogue, but the beast is facing in

opposite directions, so the scalloped edge appears as his face in the catalogue.)

Leo [-] stands to the left, roaring with his tail upraised.

Virgo [-] appears to be a male figure without wings. He wears a long dress and

holds a branch in his raised right hand and holds his left hand down by his side.

Orion [-] is kneeling to the left, below Taurus and Gemini, with his head directly

below the right knee of Taurus. He appears to be seen from the rear but the

hand that holds the club must be his right one because of the position of the

fingers. He wears a knee-length tunic and a Phrygian cap. He holds a cloth in his

left hand and a sword horizontally in his right hand. (His posture is nearly

identical to the figures of Bootes and Hercules in the winter hemispheres)

Canis Minor [+] is placed below the first section of Hydra, and leaps to the right.

Hydra [+] has its head below Cancer, its tail below Virgo and he is drawn like a

snake.

Crater [-] is drawn as a goblet and is placed on the middle of Hydra, below Leo.

Corvus [+] is placed near the middle of Hydra and faces forward.

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Cetus [+] is located below Aries and Orion, is drawn as a sea monster with a

dog’s face and front legs and a cork-screw tail.

The anomalous Capricorn [0] is drawn with one long horn, a beard and a cork-

screw tail.

Canis Maior [-] is to the left of Navis. He is drawn as if he were running vertically

up the solsticial colure. He has a very long tail.

Navis [+] is to the right of Canis Maior and below the rear half of Hydra. It is

drawn as a partly visible ship with a trefoil at one end, 7 oars, a little steering

house and two shields on deck.

The rear half of Centaurus [0] is placed upside-down, so that its body runs

vertically along the colure (with its rear hooves uppermost) with only the rear

half showing.

II: Cartography of the winter hemisphere

The circle that frames the map represents the equinoctial colures. The vertical line

through the middle of the map and the north and south equatorial poles represents

the winter solstitial colure. Perpendicular to this colure, there are three straight

lines representing the ever-visible circle, the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator. The

lines corresponding to the Tropic of Capricorn and the ever-invisible circle are not

drawn. When expressed as fractions of the diameter of the map, the distances of

these three horizontal lines from the North Pole measure 0.20, 0.41 and 0.62

respectively. In addition to these straight lines, there are two arcs (or sections of

circles) which represent the northern and southern boundaries of the zodiacal band.

The upper and lower boundaries of the zodiac intersect the solstitial colure at

distances of 0.13 and 0.34 from the South Pole, respectively (distances expressed as

fractions of the diameter of the map).

a. Locations of the constellations with respect to the grid

North of the ever-visible circle: the tail of Draco (left of the colure) and the body of

Cepheus except for his head and hands (right of the colure).

Between the ever-visible circle and the Tropic of Cancer: Bootes and Hercules (left

of the colure) and tail of Delphinus, the head and hands of Cepheus, Cassiopeia and

Andromeda (right of the colure).

Between the northern boundary of the zodiac and the Tropic of Cancer: Aquila (left

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of the colure) and the head of Delphinus and Pegasus (right of the colure).

In the zodiacal band: Libra, Scorpio (depicted with Ophiuchus and Serpens standing

on top of him) and Sagittarius (left of the colure), and Capricorn, Aquarius and

Pisces (right of the colure).

Below the southern boundary of the zodiac: Centaurus with Lupus (left of the

colure) and Piscis with the stream of Aquarius (to the right of the colure).

The Tropic of Cancer passes through the head of Hercules the middle of Delphinus,

and the head of Cassiopeia.

The ever-visible circle passes through the wrists and neck of Cepheus.

The equator passes through the waist and left shoulder of the figure holding Libra,

the ears of Pegasus and the tail of the northern fish and the cord of Pisces.

The winter solstitial colure does not pass through any of the figures.

b. Significant features of the constellations images

an extremely long tail-part of Draco [-] runs from the right of the colure, passes

through it and ends above the head of Bootes.

Cepheus [+] is upside down with his arms raised. He wears a short tunic and a

long cloak around his shoulders. He is placed so that most of his body is placed

north of the ever-visible circle. His hands and head, however, appear just south

of this boundary.

Bootes [+/-] appears above Libra. He walks to the left and appears to be seen

from the rear, but the position of his fingers possibly suggests otherwise. He is

dressed in a tunic and has a cloth covering his left/right arm. He holds a sword in

his upraised left/right hand. His head touches the edge of the ever-visible circle.

(The figure of Bootes is virtually identical to the depiction of Hercules and that

of Orion in the summer hemisphere.)

Hercules [0] is depicted upside down and kneels towards the right. His lower

body is in profile and his upper body faces the viewer, so that he is shown

kneeling on his left knee. He is nude but has a cloak over one of his shoulder.

The cloak covers his arm so that is looks like a piece of cloth. He holds a club in

his left hand behind him. (The figure of Hercules is similar to the depiction of

Bootes and that of Orion in the summer hemisphere.)

Cassiopeia [+/-] is upside down, directly below Cepheus. She wears a long dress,

sits on a seat with a cushion, with has raised and outstretched hands. On both

sides, there are depictions of the branches or trees more commonly found

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accompanying Andromeda. Her head is cut by the Tropic of Cancer. (Apart from

the odd addition of the trees, the depiction resembles that found in the text).

Andromeda [+/-] is upside down to the right of Cassiopeia and above Pegasus.

She is dressed in a long robe with sleeves that hand down from her elbows like

tubes. Her arms are outstretched. (The figure of Andromeda is similar to that

found in the text, save the loss of her accompanying rocks).

Aquila [-] is standing upside down between Hercules and the zodiacal sign of

Scorpio (Ophiuchus) and Sagittarius, and facing to the right with wings outspread.

Delphinus [-] is directly above Capricorn, with the length of its worm-like body

hugging the winter solstitial colure on the right side, and with its head facing

toward the south. The Tropic of Capricorn bisects its body.

Pegasus [+] is half a winged horse, upside down, facing left and placed above

Capricorn and Aquarius. His ears and the tips of his wings touch the equator.

Libra [0] is drawn as a figure in a long robe, holding a pair of scales in its

outstretched right hand.

Scorpio [+] is represented by the conflation of the figure of Ophiuchus with the

Scorpio placed beneath his feet. The man faces away from the viewer and holds

Serpens so it wraps around his waist and curls through his legs. The Scorpion

faces to the left.

Sagittarius [-] is a nude male figure, standing to the left and facing away from

the viewer, holding a bow with his left hand in front of his body.

Capricorn [+] faces right, has a single horn and a tail with a curl at the end.

Aquarius [+/-] is nude except for a cape around his shoulders. He steps to the

right, and holds an upturned urn in front of him that pours water into a stream.

(The figures differ in that the Aquarius in the star catalogue is dressed and turns

his head backwards over his shoulder to look towards the left.)

Pisces [-] are swimming back-to-back in the same direction and are .joined by a

line at their mouths.

Despite the depiction of the rear half of Centaurus in the summer hemisphere,

the whole figure of Centaurus [+] appears below Scorpio and Sagittarius. He

stands to the right holding Lupus in his outstretched right hand. In his left hand

he holds a spear at the end of which another animal is hanging by its feet.

Piscis [-] swims to the right, with his mouth connected to a stream, which runs to

the right, but does not connect to Aquarius.

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Comments

Despite the stylistic and temporal distance between the two manuscripts, the

closest pictorial parallel to the Dresden hemispheres appears in the Renaissance

illustrations in Vat Reg lat 1324.

The hemispheres are arranged on one page, with north located at the top both the

summer and winter hemisphere. This arrangement also appears in the Dresden

manuscript, the two St Gall manuscripts and in Vat Reg lat 1324 and it does provide

a certain hindrance to being able to read across or between the two hemispheres.

From a user’s point of view, it is a solution inferior to the one that appears in the

Aberystwyth and Paris BN 12957 manuscripts.

In both hemispheres, the grid that represents the main celestial circles is a very

corrupted form of the orthographic projection (see below). For instance, the

zodiacal bands in the hemispheres completely fail to conform with this projection.

Moreover, in the summer hemisphere, the Tropic of Cancer touches the northern

boundary of the zodiac and the southern boundary of the zodiac intersects the

equinoxial colures (the outer boundary of the hemisphere) at the Tropic of

Capricorn. In the winter hemisphere, the northern boundary of the zodiac intersects

the equinoxial colures (the outer boundary of the hemisphere) at the Tropic of

Cancer.

Using the grid of the celestial circles as a guide, the overall design of the maps is

also not very good. The Equator should be exactly in the middle of the maps and

intersect with the colures at a distance of 0.50. But, in the summer hemisphere, the

equator intersects the colure at a distance of 0.45 from the North Pole and in the

winter hemisphere it intersects at 0.62. When interpreted in terms of an

orthographic projection, in the summer hemisphere the intersections of the Tropics

of Cancer and Capricorn with the colure should be at 0.30 (the map shows 0.18) and

0.70 (the map shows 0.58) respectively from the North Pole -- assuming an obliquity

of the ecliptic of 24°. In the winter hemisphere, the Tropic of Cancer should

intersect the colure at 0.70 (the map shows 0.59) from the South Pole. The same

model of projection dictates that, for the summer hemisphere, the intersections of

the boundaries of the zodiac with the colure should be at 0.25 (the map shows

0.18) and 0.35 (the map shows 0.39) from the North Pole, -- assuming the

boundaries to be 6° north and south of the ecliptic. For the winter hemisphere, the

intersections of the boundaries of the zodiac with the colure should be at 0.25 (the

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map shows 0.13) and 0.35 (the map shows 0.34) from the South Pole respectively.

Finally, with an orthographic projection, the intersections of the ever-visible and

ever-invisible circles with the colure should in the summer hemisphere be at 0.14

(the map shows 0.08) and 0.86 (the map shows 0.80) from the North Pole

respectively, for geographical latitude of 44°. The ever-visible circle should

intersect the colure in the winter hemisphere at 0.86 (the map shows 0.80) from the

South Pole.

Although any interpretation of these numbers is remains somewhat complicated by a

number of factors, they seem to suggest that there were many intermediaries

between these hemispheres and a hypothetical classical prototype. In considering

the source or sources of the many structural problems of the maps, the one feature

that seems to stand out most prominently as a possible explanation for the poor

quality of the grid is the fact that the equator has not been placed in the middle of

the map. In the summer hemisphere, the equator is too far north and, in the winter

hemisphere, it appears too far to the south. This flaw, it seems, results from the

artist’s decision to copy the grid of the one hemisphere directly from the other – as

if the structure of one hemisphere has been traced from a ‘folded over’ version of

the other. The two hemispheres exactly mirror each other vertically and, as a

result, they mirror each other’s flaws. One can also see these ‘errors’ in the

hemispheres in Paris BN n.a. 1614, the two St Gall manuscripts and Vat Reg lat

1324.

As mentioned, another problem in these maps is that is that the line corresponding

to the Tropic of Cancer is tangential to the upper boundary of the zodiacal band.

fol. 13r Picture of a celestial globe (labelled: INVOLUTIO SPHERAE) showing 9 constellations.

PERSEUS, AURIGA, URSA MAIOR are above the zodiacal band; ARIES, TAURUS, GEMINI

are in the band and ERIDANUS, the hind legs of CANIS MAIOR and ARGO are below it.

The stand consists of six columns supporting the horizon ring and of one central

support for the meridian ring. The four columns in front and the central support are

decorated. The north pole is indicated by a clamping screw. For a fuller description,

see the section on hemispheres.

ff. 14r-26r Pen drawings of 41 constellation grouping. There are no stars marked. The pictures

are set between blocks of text. Most constellations are surrounded by labels,

written in capital letters

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fol. 14r URSA MAIOR (labelled: ARCTURUS MAIOR) stands to the left, with long toenails on

its feet. Its mouth is open and and it has a hump on its back. No tail is visible and it

is slightly larger than the other bear.

fol. 14v URSA MINOR (labelled: ARCTURUS MINOR) stands to the left, with long toenails on

its feet. Its mouth is open and and there is a hump on its back.

fol. 15r DRACO INTER ARCTOS (labelled: SERPENS INTER AMBAS ARCTURUS) is a snake-like

Draco with 3 bends in his body and his head presented as if viewed from the top

(facing to the right). The Bears are between the second and third bends. They are

back-to-back, facing in opposite directions and inwards towards the body of the

Snake. Both seem to be galloping forward.

fol. 15v HERCULES (labelled: HERCULES) is in the Garden of Hesperides with the Snake and

the tree on the left. He is nude, bearded and kneels to the left on his left knee. He

seems to have his upper torso facing away from the viewer. He holds the lion’s skin

over his outstretched left arm in front of him with its fur represented as scallops

and the lion’s head visible just under Hercules’s left armpit. He holds a leafy branch

behind his head horizontally in his right hand.

CORONA (labelled: CORONA) is a circlet of 9 dots with small hairs coming from

each. There are two long ribbon tendrils coming away from the bottom of the crown

to the left and right.

fol. 16r OPHIUCHUS is nude with his back to the viewer, standing towards the left with the

tips of his toes on the back of SCORPIO with SERPENS wrapped around his waist.

The orientation of the Snake’s body is complicated as it runs in front of his body,

crosses behind its own body and then runs through his legs before being grasped in

his left hand. The Snake is facing the man. SCORPIO faces to the left, with a

almond-shaped body, 2 claws and 8 (?) legs and a thin tail that ends in a V-shape.

fol. 16v There is a second Scorpio (labelled: SCORPIUS) with an almond-shaped body, long

claws on the left side, 8 V-shaped legs and a segmented tail that end in a J-shape. It

has a number of decorative bands on its body.

BOOTES (labelled: BOOTES) is facing the viewer and dressed in a short skirt with a

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rolled cloth around his waist and his torso is nude. He holds a stick in his raised left

arm and his left arm is outstretched and is transformed into a wing. His head is

turned to the left in profile and he is bearded. His left leg is slightly raised as if he

were about to take a step towards the right.

fol. 17r VIRGO (labelled: VIRGO) stands facing the viewer with her head turned towards the

left. She has no wings, but is dressed in a long robe with a mantle over her head.

He holds a holding plant (palm?) in her in outstretched right hand and she holds the

Scales in her left at waist height. There is a decorative band around the neckline of

her dress.

GEMINI (labelled: GEMINI) are dressed in short tunics with longer cloaks that are

hung on their left shoulders. They hold spears in their outer hands and both are

pointing towards the spears with their inner hands.

fol. 17v CANCER (labelled: CANCER) faces to the right and has a cross-shaped decoration on

its back. It has 2 arm-like claws that end in pincers and 8 V-shaped legs and a

scalloped nose with something like whiskers coming from near his eyes.

Leo (labelled: LEO) runs to the left with its mouth open and its tail streaming out to

the left.

fol. 18r AURIGA (labelled: AGITATOR) kneels to the right wearing a long tunic that is tied at

the waist and has a flower as the ‘buckle’ and there is a cloak flowing from his

shoulders. His long tight sleeves are bunch on his forearms. He holds a flail with a

single thong in his outstretched right hand and has 2 goats, face-to-face, on his

outstretched left arm. There is a larger goat standing in front of him and facing him.

TAURUS (labelled: TAURUS) is depicted as half a bull facing to the right with his

right leg tucked under and left leg extended out straight in front of him. He has

short horns and a curly fringe.

fol. 18v CEPHEUS (labelled: CEPHEUS) stands facing the viewer with his with bared arms

held out straight to either sides. He wears a short tunic, gathered at the waist and

has a knee-length mantle that forms V-shaped swags over his shoulders. He has no

other attributes.

CASSIOPEIA (labelled: CASSIEPHIA) is seated on a low-backed throne with a pillow

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and with her arms outstretched to the sides. Her mantle is caught at her breast with

a circular pin.

fol. 19r ANDROMEDA (labelled: ANDROMEDA) stands facing the viewer, wearing a long

straight robe the sleeves of which hang over her elbows like tubes. Her arms are

bared and raised at shoulder height, resting upon two piles of rocks. Her hair is

exposed, but tied back.

fol. 19v PEGASUS (labelled: EQUUS) is depicted as half a winged horse that faces to the right

(but only his right wing visible) with his forefeet reaching forward. The cut-off is

an oval with a squiggly vertical line down it.

ARIES (labelled: ARIES) leaps to the left with his head turned backwards towards the

right. He wears a frilly band around waist, has short curled horns, a long fleecy tail

and has prominent genitals.

fol. 20r TRIANGULUM (labelled: DELTOTON) is two nested triangles with a wavy pattern

between the two and dots inside the middle.

PISCES (labelled: PISCES) are tied by striped band at mouths with both backs on top

and swimming in opposite directions

fol. 20v PERSEUS (labelled: PERSEUS) is nude, kneeling to left on what appear to be his left

knee. The orientation of his torso is difficult to determine as it seems that the

vertical line indicates the line of the backbone, but his navel is visible on the left

side. He has a decapitated head in the hand that is outstretched in front and other

hand held out behind him holding the harpe horizontally. He is wearing Phrygian

cap.

fol. 21r PLEIADES (labelled: VERGILIAE) are 7 bust-portraits of women with head coverings

set within circles.

fol. 21v LYRA (labelled: LYRA) with zither-shaped base and oxen horn side supports. The top

bar rests above vertical supports surmounted by rings and there are horn-shaped

elements in front of these. The pegs at the top of the bar are visible.

CYGNUS (labelled: CYGNUS) is walking to the right with S-shaped neck and its wings

outstretched to the sides.

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AQUARIUS (labelled: AQUARIUS) walks to right, with his right leg leading. He is

wearing a Phrygian cap, long-sleeved shirt and loose leggings with his cape flowing

behind him. He is pouring from upside-down urn he holds with both hands in front of

him, and he looks backwards over his shoulder to the left.

fol. 22r CAPRICORN (labelled: CAPRICORNUS) faces to left with long curved (feathery) horns

and a curled tail that ends in a trefoil. He has a beard and holds his legs out in front

of him.

SAGITTARIUS (labelled: SAGITTARIUS) is a centaur leaping to left. He does not have

a shirt, but does have a long cape flowing behind him. He is bearded and has

extremely long, slightly twisting horns. He holds the bow in his outstretched left

hand and pulls the string with is right.

fol. 22v AQUILA (labelled: AQUILA) stands with its wings outstretched, looking over his right

shoulder to the left and standing on arrow (SAGITTA).

DELPHINUS (labelled: DELFINUS) has a long dolphin-like snout and a horn on his

head, and a slim sinuous body that ends in an acanthus leaf-shaped tail.

fol. 23r ORION (labelled: ORION) is standing to left and seems to be facing the viewer. He

wears a short tunic caught at the waist and a cloak that covers his outstretched

right hand. His left arm is similarly outstretched and he holds a long sword

horizontally in it. There is a scabbard at his waist. To the right of this figure is a

drawing of a lion facing to the right with his left forepaw raised and that looks back

over his shoulder towards the man with his tongue sticking out. His tail is raised

high. The drawing appears to have been done prior to the man as the edge of

Orion’s scabbard cover the lion’s left hind knee.

fol. 23v CANIS MAIOR (labelled: CANIS) is running to left with halo and star-rays from head.

Its mouth is open and it has a very long thin tail with a tuft on the end.

LEPUS (labelled: LEPUS) is running to left and has long straight ears and prominent

whiskers.

fol. 24 ARGO (labelled: NAUIS) is a nearly full ship with a blunt and at the right and a

curved stern with an acanthus tip at the left. There are two steering oars at the rear

of the ship and a small, highly-decorated house on deck. At the right side is a

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scythe-shaped object that represents a mast with a furled pennant.

CETUS (labelled: COETUS) faces to the right. It has a dog/lion face with pointed

ears, an open mouth with bared teeth, hairy jowls and fire coming out of its

nostrils. The front feet are flippers, and the underside of its body is covered with

scales, there is a twist in the tail and it end in a trefoil.

fol. 24v ERIDANUS (labelled: HERIDANUS) is an extremely well-drawn bust of male with

flame-like hair and pointed beard. There is a cross-woven basket with a plant like

mother-in-law’s tongue to his right. There are indications of water to either side.

PISCIS (labelled: PISCIS) is swimming to the left, upside down with a prominent eye

and a gaping mouth.

fol. 25r ARA (labelled: SACRARIUM) as square, three-level tower with numerous small

opening at each level, the top storey is tubular are there are flames coming from

the top. To the right, there is an attempt to copy the shape which has been

abandoned.

fol. 25v CENTAURUS is a beefy centaur with short hair and a beard. It is running to right

with its forelegs extended in front of it. It is holding dead dog (LUPUS) by its heels

in his outstretched right hand;. In his hidden left hand he holds a straight stick

which has a hare hanging by its heels from its end.

fol. 26r HYDRA (labelled: YDRA) is a long snake slithering to the left. It breaths fire and is

highly decorated. There is a 2-handled CRATER on his back and CORVUS near his tail

facing forwards.

CANIS MINOR (labelled: ANTECANIS) is running to left with a thick, decorated collar

on his neck.

fol. 27r Images of the 5 planet gods set in roundels. Jupiter as an older bearded man;

Mercury with wings on his head and a caduceus; Mars with a crested helmet and

Saturn with a reed. Below this, there is an image of 3 concentric circles (labelled:

LACTEUS CIRCULUS)

fol. 28v Sol and Luna placed within a zodiac circle and both hold orbs with a cross on each

(labelled: ZODIACUS CIRCULUS) with Aries is full with a lacy ring around its stomach

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looking backwards to the right over its shoulder; Taurus, is half a bull, the Gemini

are two warriors; Cancer has a scalloped shell; Virgo is winged and has a stick; Libra

is held by a nude male figure; Sagittarius is a centaur; and both Pisces have their

backs towards the top and are connected by a line between their mouths.

fol. 29v Luna (labelled: LUNA) is set within a roundel. She is standing behind the curved

edge of a biga drawn by 2 bulls to the left. She has a crescent moon on her head, a

torch in her left hand and she raises her right hand in salutation.

fol. 31r Sol is set within a roundel. He is standing in a quadriga (with the horses spilt two-

and-two). He is facing the viewer. He has a crown on his head and a sceptre in his

left hand.

notes

Contains the Revised Aratus latinus with illustrations, Hyginus, Cicero’s Aratea, Excerptum de

Astrologia (Maass, Anonymous III, pp. 309-12) and De ordine ac positone stellarum . Presumed to

have a French origin as one of the early owners was the Lyonnais Emperor, Jean de Tournes (see

Buescu and Soubiran).

The illustrations fall within the RAL I group, the defining features of which are discussed in the

Commentary.

bibliography

BUNTE 1875, pp. 11-12.

SCHNORR von CAROLSFELD 1882, I, pp. 334-35.

BREYSIG 1867, p. xxviii.

KATALOG ... DRESDEN 1882, I, pp. 334-35.

KAUFFMANN 1888.

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MANITIUS 1897, pp. 305-32.

MAASS 1898, pp. xxi-xxii.

THIELE 1898, pp. 43, 161- 62, figs. 7 and p. 71.

written in 9th-10th century and also has Hyginus (ff 33 ff) Cicero Aratea (94ff) and the

Excerptum de Astrologia Arati as the Phillippicus has; the Latin commentary in the

interpolated version with the complete introduction; pen drawings with the Aratus

commentary and with the vertices extremos are not without grace and elegance; perhaps the

ms has associations with St Gall school re: style

MANITIUS 1901, pp. 462-72.

CUMONT 1916, p. 12.

BUESCU 1942, pp. 68-73; repr 1973, pp. 93-132

BYVANCK 1949, pp. 221-22, 225 and 229.

MARTIN 1956 p. 44.

speaks of Manitius having used a group of ‘revised’ manuscripts for his study: it is 9th

century, and also contains an epitome of the Phaenomena by Priscian, an Excerptum de

astrologia Arati, which is a description of the map of the sky in the Aratean order (Maass,

Anon III, pp. 309-12); the Astronomica of Hyginus; the Aratea of Cicero; and the De ordine ac

positione stellarum in signis taken from the Germanicus scholia

MARTIN 1956, p. 44.

9th century, also has an epitome of the Phenemona of Priscian, and Excerptum de Astrologia

Arati (= Maass, pp. 309-12); Astronomica of Hyginus, Aratea of Cicero and De ordine ac

positione stellarum in signis.

SOUBIRAN 1972, pp. 116-17 and 132-33.

McGURK 1973, p. 203.

REEVE 1980, pp. 508-11.

Dresden DC 183 left France sometime after 1573, the Cicero part is not illustrated, however

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(the illustrations accompany scholia Sangermanensis); says the text would have to be pieced

together from Breysig (pp. 105-232), Manitius 1897, pp. 305-32 and Maass 1898 pp. 99-32;

Martin, Hist pp. 42-5 gives the best survey of what it would have embraced.

O’CONNOR 1980, p. 60, n. 3, 64.

says West Frankish, 1st half 9th century.

McGURK1981, p. 320.

West Francia, early 9th century; revised Aratus latinus; notes ‘spera solida’ and its mistakes

VIRÉ 1981, pp. 165 ff.

MUNK OLSEN 1982, I, pp. 332 and 527.

REEVE 1983, p. 22.

re : Cicero ; 9th century (includes in stemma); nearest relative of Vercellensis; left France in

1573, precise home unknown.

O’CONNOR 1984, p. 64 and no 4.

LeBOURDELLÈS 1985, p. 77.

Breysig (p. xxviii) noted that corrections in a second hand in St Gall 250 came from the

Sangermanensis; has identical content as St Gall 902 with RAL, Hyginus, Cicero Aratea

Excerptum de Astrologia and the De ordine ac positione stellarum; of the 9th century, and

contains: the revised Aratus latinus, Hyginus, Cicero’s Aratus, Excerptum de Astrologia,

De ordine ac positone stellarum; but has some peculiarities not found in the St Gall mss, such

as the catalogue of stars with Catasterisms having been replaced with catalogue of the

scholiasts of Germanicus; presumed to have a French origin as one of the early owners was

the Lyonnais Emperor Jean de Tournes (see Buescu and Soubiran).

KERSCHER 1988, esp. fig 21.

MÜTHERICH 1989, pp. 32, 35, 38ff and 51.

ERNST 1991, p. 585.

BORST 1995, p. 195.

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HAFFNER 1997, p. 174.

lists as 9th century with recensio interpolata.

BISCHOFF 1998, nr. 1044.

OBRIST 2001, pp. 24-25.

BLUME HAFFNER METZGER 2012, pp. 77-79 and 234-39.

pp. 77-79 – West Frankish (‘largely identical’ to Paris BN 12957); Recensio interpolata,

Hyginus, Cicero transl of Phaenomena and Aachen star catalogue, De ordine ac positione; says

represents the French monastic interest in purely astronomical issues; used in liberal arts

education

pp. 234-39: must post-date 809, but disagreement about dating early or third quarter;

illustrations close to all RAL manuscripts, but especially Paris BN 12957.

DEKKER 2012, pp. 118-142 (hemispheres), 192-207(globe on stand), 210-13 (h) and 255 (g).

pp. 210-13: follows the text of Descriptio duorum semispheriorum and precedes Aratus

genus; addition of non-Aratean ivy leaf and anomalous Capricorn (belongs to the H3 group);

most constellations follow Hipparchan rule

p. 255: drawing of celestial globe like Paris BN lat 12957, except for missing goats on

Auriga’s arm and animal below Ursa maior

Documents

Dresden Sächsische Landesbibliothek Staats- und ...€¦ · DRESDEN 2 fol. 28v XIV. … duabus, Saturni duabus ut Sol. ZODIACUS CIRCULUS. ff. 28v-29v XV. Luna terris vicinior est